Desktop Engineer
Salary

Men make up the majority of Desktop Engineers in the United States, and the nationwide average salary in this area lies in the neighborhood of $61K annually. Geographic location is the biggest factor affecting pay for this group, followed by years of experience. Most report receiving medical and dental coverage from their employers and a strong majority collect vision insurance. Job satisfaction is reported as high by the vast majority of workers. The data for this snapshot was collected from individuals who took PayScale's salary survey.

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

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Job Description for Desktop Engineer

A desktop engineer specializes in building and maintaining information technology (IT) in a professional capacity. They are usually employed by companies that need an on-site expert to manage office networks and technology. The responsibilities of a desktop engineer cover a wide range of duties within the area of information technology, including handling network creation and maintenance, designing and implementing security solutions, troubleshooting technical issues with staff, and generally managing all kinds of IT-related situations and problems.

This job primarily takes place in an indoor environment, though in some instances the engineer may be required to work on technology located outside of the immediate office area. Some companies hire desktop engineers to serve more than one location, traveling from one base of operations to another as directed by the department head or chief executive officer. While this position is one that primarily functions as an individual, a desktop engineer is responsible for troubleshooting technical problems, and they interact with other employees and/or clients on a regular basis to resolve issues and properly maintain hardware and software.

Desktop engineers are typically required to hold a bachelor's degree in information technology or a closely related field, and, in some cases, certain positions may require an additional, higher degree. Practical experience with creating and maintaining computer programs and systems or other technology is generally preferred. In most companies, desktop engineers are required to keep up with the latest developments in the field, and they may attend conferences or undergo additional training.

Desktop Engineer Tasks

Assist in development of IT and infrastructure projects.

Manage returns on warranted systems and parts.

Perform support services to employees with technical problems an IT issues.

Correct hardware problems with laptops, desktops and other computing equipment.

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Popular Skills for Desktop Engineer

This chart shows the most popular skills for this job and what effect each skill has on pay.

Survey results imply that Desktop Engineers deploy a deep pool of skills on the job. Most notably, facility with Systems Engineering, Windows 7, and Automation Scripting are correlated to pay that is significantly above average, leading to increases of 35 percent, 18 percent, and 17 percent, respectively. Skills that pay less than market rate include Computer Hardware Technician and Microsoft Active Directory. Those educated in System Administration tend to be well versed in Windows 2003 Server.

Pay by Experience Level for Desktop Engineer

Median of all compensation (including tips, bonus, and overtime) by years of experience.

For many Desktop Engineers, extensive experience does not lead to significantly more money. The average worker who claims fewer than five years of experience earns around $48K. In contrast, however, individuals who report five to 10 years in this occupation see a much larger median of $61K. People with 10 to 20 years of experience make an average of about $65K in this role. After two decades in the workforce, the average Desktop Engineer generally earns more than ever; median pay for this group is estimated at $71K.

Pay Difference by Location

Tampa is home to an above-average pay rate for Desktop Engineers, 21 percent higher than the national average. Desktop Engineers can also look forward to large paychecks in cities like New York (+20 percent), Houston (+10 percent), Columbus (+9 percent), and Washington (+3 percent). Location significantly influences compensation, with Nashville Desktop Engineers earning much less — 29 percent less — than the national average.